The Weatherspoon published the catalog early in 2011. Weatherspoon Art Museum: 70 Years of Collecting included a history of the Museum and full-color reproductions and entries on each of the 100 featured works. The entries are written by the art history faculty in the UNCG Department of Art, and the Museum’s director and curators: K. Porter Aichele, George Dimock, Nancy M. Doll, Xandra Eden, Richard Gantt, Carl Goldstein, Ann Grimaldi, Elaine D. Gustafson, Heather Holian, Elizabeth Perrill, and Will South.

The objects included in the book represent each decade from the turn of the twentieth century to the first decade of this century. Among those showcased are works by Henri Matisse, David Smith, Willem de Kooning, Alexander Calder, Eva Hesse, Robert Rauschenberg, and Elizabeth Murray. Although the majority of the artists represented in the Weatherspoon’s collection are recognized for their long, successful careers, the inclusion of a few younger artists demonstrates the museum’s commitment to “promising new voices.” The first significant publication to focus on the Weatherpoon’s collections, 70 Years of Collecting guarantees to be an informative and enjoyable read.

In 1941 Gregory D. Ivy, an artist, teacher, and the first head of the art department at Woman’s College, founded the Weatherspoon Art Gallery. Ivy was motivated by his belief that students should have firsthand experience of the art of their time. During the seven decades following his astute vision, the Weatherspoon has evolved from a small teaching gallery to a fully accredited museum with a national reputation that still places education at the heart of its mission.

Ivy also felt the gallery would benefit the community, and he needed its support. This award-winning handbook, 70 Years of Collecting, begins with a history woven from a collection of stories about the museum’s growth. Over the years, the Weatherspoon has been the most fortunate recipient of remarkable support, both moral and financial, from the university and the greater Greensboro community. It also has benefitted from a host of dedicated employees and key events that have shaped it into a modern and contemporary art museum with a significant collection. Visit the 70 Years special exhibition website for a sampling of the works featured in the catalog.

The new handbook is currently available for purchase at the museum’s gift store.